Bird Sightings

Another lovely sunny day with weakening North-westerly winds throughout the day. The island felt quite birdy this morning, but the wind direction means it was quite tricky for birds to come across to the island from the mainland. However, as the title suggests, a few eager migrants are pushing through, and it will be interesting to see what the afternoon holds as the wind eases even more.

Census started with a small flock of Goldfinches at the top of Millcombe. This flock split several times and it was difficult to judge how many there were at times but 6 was the best count and seemingly involved a pair, a lone male, and a small flock of 3 individuals. Other bits in Millcombe included 6 Chaffinches, 5 Robin, 10 Wrens (13 seen in total), 9 Dunnocks, 2 Goldcrests, 4 House Sparrows (30 seen in total), the singing male Song thrush, 6 Woodpigeons, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackbirds and 2 Greenfinches (scarce here) found by Andy that were finally caught up with near Millcombe House. A Firecrest was also seen in the pines but was not picked up on census. Off the Ugly, 5 Gannets, 8 Shag, 2 Kittiwake, 4 Oystercatchers, 18 Herring Gulls (127 seen in total), 3 Great Black Backed Gulls and 7 Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Likewise, a Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver were subsequently seen from the Ugly but not picked up on census unfortunately.

Meadow Pipit in front of Old Light. ©Thomas Weston

Walking to Benjamin’s Chair was quiet with a pair of Ravens (4 see in total) noted. At Benjamin’s Chair, 3 Porpoise, 2 Fulmar, a Rock Pipit, 2 Wheatear males (1 singing), and a flyover flock of 3 Goldfinches and a single Siskin were nice additions to the census. Rocket Pole Pond had no birds on the pond itself but the regular pair of Stonechats and the sound of territorial Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing in SouthWest Fields were nice to hear. Checking Lower Lighthouse Field resulted in a White Wagtail that was initially feeding alone with the sheep, then joined by 4 Pied Wagtails where great comparisons were had, before all birds took flight as a flock of Starlings came through. Unfortunately, the wagtails were lost to view. Moving towards the Airfield and a Meadow Pipit was showing really nicely on the wall by Old Light (see above). The Airfield was quiet but a couple more Stonechat and Skylark were noted and a Snipe was flushed from the wet verges in front of ¼ wall.

Spot the Wheatears on The Terraces. ©Thomas Weston

A quick break from the census heading towards The Terraces resulted in a flock of 4 Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaff and a House Martin hanging around Quarry Pond as well as a single Goldcrest and the usual Stonechats, Dunnocks, Robins and Blackbirds on The Terraces.

Back to the census and Brick Field had an interesting flock of 9 Skylarks which could well be new in migrants as the ‘normal’ birds noted on census are either singing or hanging around favoured males territories. A pair of Mallard, flocks of Herring Gulls, 14 Carrion Crows (20 seen in total) and 108 Starlings were the best between here walked back to the Village.

Other bird sightings today involved:

• Small flock of Puffins off North Light.
• Manx Shearwaters passing the East Coast in low numbers.
• American Green-winged Teal still on Pondsbury.
• Highest count of the year of Wheatear with 21 spotted including 8 colour ringed birds.
• Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins all arriving off the South Coast.

 One of the eight colour-marked Wheatear arriving back today. This male was originally ringed as a second calendar-year bird in June '22, but not encountered in '23, so it's nice to have him back! © Joe Parker

A cool Northwesterly wind graced the island again but a few migrants were getting through, even if they looked very tired...

Tired male Blackcap in Millcombe. ©Thomas Weston

The day started with the census. Counts included 3 Mallard, 8 Woodpigeon, single Oystercatcher, 137 Herring Gulls, 19 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 2 Fulmar, 3 Gannet, 5 Shag, 2 Peregrine, 38 Carrion Crow, 5 Raven. 4 Skylark, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 6 Wren, 27 Starlings, 8 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 5 Robins, single Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 6 Dunnock, 10 House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtails, single ‘alba wagtail’, 12 Meadow Pipits, 5 Chaffinches, Linnet and 6 Goldfinches.

Thank you to fellow birders Andy and Tim for their sightings today that included the American Green-winged Teal male still on Pondsbury with 5 Eurasian Teal, a Red-throated Diver off the Ugly, a Great Northern Diver off The Terraces, at least 41 passing Manx Shearwaters off the North/East Coast, an arrival of Wheatear with at least 10 seen involving two colour ringed birds near the Battery, and a singing Greenfinch (scarce here) in Millcombe. There was no sign of the Purple Sandpipers today at Brazen Ward. However, the Lower East Path was the most sheltered spot throughout the day and therefore the best place to see Stonechats, Blackcap (see photo above) and Chiffchaff all feeding in the bracken and ivy.

A change in wind direction led to a cool North Westerly wind pushed away the humid, foggy conditions we have had the last few days leading to a sunny day and cooler temperatures. Due to it being a changeover day, the census was split with Joe and Thomas taking half the census each.

Census counts included a single Water Rail, 6 Woodpigeons, 3 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, 12 Wrens, a Song Thrush, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Robins, 6 Dunnocks, 8 Chaffinches, a single Linnet, 3 Goldfinches, a single Fieldfare, and 32 Redwing were in Millcombe. Interesting sightings from the Ugly included a flyby Woodcock and Cormorant whilst in the Landing Bay 2 Guillemot, 3 Fulmar, 2 Gannet, single Red-throated Diver and a single Great Northern Diver were seen. Off Benjamin’s Chair, 38 Razorbills, a Peregrine, and 10 Shag were sheltering from the wind. At Rocket Pole Pond, a Mallard, and a small flock of 15 Redwing were seen whilst a Kestrel was on the Church for the second day in a row. Between Southwest Fields and the Airfield, 8 Skylarks, 3 Stonechats, 4 Pied Wagtails and 26 Meadow Pipits were seen. Moving northwards, in Tillage and Brick Fields, a Chiffchaff and 28 Carrion Crows were spotted with counts from The Village included 4 Ravens, a pair of Blackbirds, 30 House Sparrows, and 42 Starlings. Gulls seen throughout the census included 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 99 Herring Gulls and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

A singing Dunnock on the Terraces. ©Thomas Weston

A quick check of The Terraces and Heligoland Trap resulted in a small flock of Redwing, a couple of Dunnocks, a pair of Blackbirds, a Chiffchaff, and a pair of Stonechat. It's always good to record any breeding behaviour of birds seen on the island as demonstrated by this Dunnock above. With jobs needing to be completed this afternoon, highlights between tasks included a Siskin over Millcombe and 2 Gannets off South Light. With new guests on the island, it was great to  hear that the American Green-winged Teal was still with 6 European Teal on Pondsbury.

One of the many Chiffchaff seen feeding on the floor in Millcombe. ©Thomas Weston

A night of northerlies swapped to a south westerly wind resulting in an arrival of migrants to the island’s East Coast.

Day highlights:

• 45 Chiffchaff – highest count of the year!
• 26 Goldcrest – highest count of the year!
• 8 Cormorants North
• 3 Blackcaps – 1^st of the year was only yesterday!
• Green-winged Teal male on Pondsbury

Census was productive with the section through Millcombe resulted in 7 Robins, 6 Blackbirds (7 seen in total), 10 Dunnocks, our singing male Song Thrush, singing male Goldfinch, 8 Wrens (17 in total), 9 Chaffinches and a single Stonechat (4 in total), 24 Goldcrest, 30 Chiffchaff and 3 male Blackcap. From the Ugly, I was joined by two guests looking for the divers. We ended up spotting a flock of 8 Cormorants heading North, 120 Razorbills (388 in total), 4 Shag, single Fulmar, 2 Gannet, 3 Guillemot and 2 Great-northern Divers. From the descriptions it sounds like one of the Red-throated Divers were here but unfortunately whilst I was there, I could not see it. Up to Benjamin’s Chair resulted in sitting Herring Gulls, a Peregrine, a Rock Pipit, and a few singing Meadow Pipits to add to the totals. Rocket Pole Pond was quite with a couple of Mallard (4 in total), nesting Stonechat (4 in total) and a flock of Carrion Crow. A female Merlin, passage Sand Martins and a small flock of Pied Wagtails were along Highstreet Field. In the Village, a Blackcap and Wheatear came inoff and landed joining our resident Starlings and House Sparrows.

Green winged Teal male on Pondsbury. ©Thomas Weston

A walk down the Terraces found another arrival of Chiffchaff with an additional 15 here! Also, another male Blackcap and a couple of Goldcrest in the Willows too were nice to see and begs the question of how many of the latter three species are currently on the island. The usual Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds and Stonechat were the best of the rest. Moving onto Pondsbury and the male Green-winged Teal was still present alongside three European Teal and a small flock of Sand Martins were feeding over the water.

 Ringing

Despite the fall, the wind was unfortunately in the wrong direction to open the Millcombe nets. However, one Robin was caught in the Heligoland.

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